Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1887-01-01

lieu. ne cO0C0OeO C00 position OF the de
con as correct and remarked that he hs
not given the subject thought, that, ifin b
mind the idea of getting married had X
once entered. he had put it away from hi
to be supplanted with the sole ambition I
n make the world better and mankind hal
q pier. He remarked that, were he to a.
upon the suggestion, he would be utterl
lost; he would not know where to go.
To this the deacon replied that it woul
be hardly possible for him to 60 amis'
There were scores Of young ladies in til
community, any one OF whom might b
/ glad to get such a husband as he woul
= make. Why" he remarked, "there's ei
ter Phipps, who has three OF the fines
t daughters in the place, three as fine wome
E as a man car find anywhere, and any on
you. Take one OF them"
After the deacon's departure the ministe
reflected seriously over all that had bee
said. He remem bered that he had Away
liked the family of Sister Phipps, and tina
nowhere else had he really felt SO much a
no e and at ease as in her presence. s.
long accustomed to putting his thought
into words it came natural to him
when his intellect was convinced. to &C
upon it's decision. Having concluded tina
to get married was the proper tbiDgfor hin
to do and that he would be better pleased
to have one of Sister Phipp's girls for hi
the family that very afternoon. He did so
He was met at the door by Sister Phipps
who ushered him into the parlor. Here
she entertained him so charmingly that be
soon felt perfectly at ease in telling her the
] object of his visit. He told of how the
deacon had called on him, what had been
said and of his determination in the mat
ter. In reply Mrs. Phipps said she would
feel highly honored to have him for a son.
in-law and she would gladly give her con-
sent to his having either OF the three girls
he might select. At his suggestion that he
would like to see her eldest daughter. Mrs.
Phipps retired and the young lady pre-.
sented herself.
lister related the story of the deacons visit,
the outcome of the same, and asked the
young lady to link her fortune with his.
The lady was highly fattered at the honor
thus paid her but, like the majority of
women, she thought if she were to say so
her sutton would be winning his prize too
easily and not appreciate it, so she gave an Z
answer that, to a man experienced in court /
ing women: would have told him he had
virtually won the day. With the minister
things seemed entirely different. !
He took her evasive answer to mean that |
The did not wish him and hat her natural |
1elicacy of feeling forbade her frankly tell
ng him so. Considering hat he had met
With q refusal he asked to see the next Sis
To her he told practically the same
story and asked her to be his wife. She
him for his offer but said it was
10 unexpected she hardly knew what to
'ay. She would certainly need to think
'ver the matter. She did not know wheth.
r she could be all that he might wish in a
wife or not. She was afraid not.
Women are queer creatures, almost as
much SO as men. Here were two women
one of whom would have had it
aid of them that they had thrown aside
N opportunity to get a man of such char
Scter, a man so highly honored, as the
OF the village. They
ach thought they had given him
answer that would make him
hink more highly of them than before
his proposal. Both wished to be
oaxed a little, for appearance sake, if for
othing else, that people might not say
hey had jumped at the first offer for fear
hey might never have another.
For a moment the minister was nom
lussed. Frank and outspoken in every
hing, he knew not the language OF strategy
= S"So ~ "SNSA ANA q ~ ACs " ANue
rable to trespass for one second where he
id not think himself gladly welcomed, he
ldged the second answer as the first, and
hat the lady shrank from trusting him as
woman should trust the man she elects
her husband. He was not lacking in
ourage, far from it. His was not SO much
courage. for he felt conscious of his
to successfully cope with men
ore fortunate in bodily development, and
hose organizations were less sensitive
nd refined, but he had moral courage, f,
acked up by a consciousness of being in
le right, that made him at times heroic in
and action. On this occasion, &
Tough considering himself as twice re- +
stone unturned that might show to 9TH /,
8 that he had failed to do his full duty in =
le premises. He asked to see the young :
t sister.
The story Of the deacon's visit was re-
'ated for the fourth time. The minister .
we expression to his own convictions as
his duty in the matter; he told of how .
e deacon had recommended the family oil
ster Phipps as one that would be glad to
nor him with an affectionate and sensi- a
e woman for a mate, and of how his own :.
conceded with that of the dea- II
n. "The object of my visit to-day" he n
marked, "is to ascertain if you will do Ct
the kindness to become my wife," The i,
'ung lady's answer was substantially as -
Certainly l will. Nothing would :,
1e me more pleasure. l have always .
ed you" il
der the circumstances, would not have ;r
He asked the young lady to consult -
her mother as to when it would be r
reeable to all concerned to have the cere- 81
my performed, and left. promising to t.
soon for the answer.
70 say that there was a hub-bub in that
usehold after the minister's departure
a mild way OF putting it. 1t m
8 not to be expected that 9,
young lady who had received and ~
;epted a proposal would keep the matter III
ecret from her most intimate friends. tn
ords would fail to do justice to the com. h,
,tion that was raised among the women til
this home when It was ascertained that nc
minister had proposed to all three of r
!, young ladies and that each lady asserted ~
had accepted the offer made her. The Dl
'ther was the most indignant of all and fel
mediately dispatched a messenger to the g,
rsonage with instructions to have the ~
mister return to the house without delay. ~
e minister obeyed the summons ana was su
t at the door by Sister Phipps. whom he ca
lid not help observe was evidently We
t Of sorts over something. Though nat nr
lily OF the most amiable disposition, she =,
as If her family had been insutted and Id
was the only one that could resent it. q
+ as she looked into the frank and til
countenauce OF the man IL
ore her she was almost compelled to cay
herself He means well, there is a mis- -
le somewhere" She Immediately inter-
ated him as to which one OF her three
he wished to marry. He replied
It in calling he had had no choice. So
as he was concerned he was willing to
e any one OF the three. He remarked n
It one OF the young ladies had accepted II
but if there was objection to his hav-
her he knew OF no reason why he could
live happily with either of the Others.
had no wish in the matter than that
be satisfactory to the entire a
lilly. N
remarked Mrs. Phipps, "but you
e proposed to all three OF the girls and W
b one declares she accepted your %offer.'
he minister said there was certainly a
understanding somewhere. If the young
y to whom he first offered himself had
opted he would not for a moment have
ught OF asking another, let alone carry
the thought into execution. lie
What did you say to then and how did -
y answer you" asked Mrs. Phlpps. VI